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Future Watch 2024
Our annual Future Watch edition is now 116 pages packed with info examining the prospect pipeline for each NHL club and counting down the top 100 prospects in the game. In our NHL Team Reports, you'll find scouting reports for the top 10 prospects for each organization. In addition, we take an in-depth look at two teams with the best systems: the St. Louis Blues and Detroit Red Wings. And we also have features on several of the game's best youngsters, including Matvei Michkov, Will Smith, Liam Ohgren and Adam Gajan.
NEW MANDATE AIMS TO PREVENT SERIOUS INJURIES
IN THE WAKE OF Adam Johnson’s passing, USA Hockey has taken a significant step toward ensuring a similar tragedy doesn’t occur at the grassroots or junior levels of the game Stateside. In January, USA Hockey Congress approved legislation that will mandate “neck laceration protection for players in all age classifications, other than adults, in games and practices, as well as for on-ice officials under the age of 18.” The decisive action comes after Johnson, playing for the EIHL’s Nottingham Panthers, died on Oct. 28, 2023, as a result of a serious neck laceration caused by an errant skate. The 29-year-old played 13 games in the NHL with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and his career included stops in the AHL, SHL and DEL. “I know throughout our organization, the overwhelming opinion was that the…
VANCOUVER CANUCKS
IN A BOTTOM-LINE NHL, where winning is everything, it’s tough to come out on top while protecting prize prospects. But this season, the Canucks are not only winning – they sat first overall in the NHL standings as the league broke for the All-Star Game – they won plaudits for not parting with top prospect Jonathan Lekkerimaki in the Jan. 31 trade for versatile center Elias Lindholm from Calgary. The Canucks did part with high-scoring OHL blueliner Hunter Brzustewicz, a 2023 third-round pick, in the trade package. He would’ve slotted in as the Canucks’ No. 2 prospect. But retaining Lekkerimaki was key. C+ | RANK: 21ST 1. JONATHAN LEKKERIMAKI OVERALL 11 RW, 19, 5-11, 172 Orebro (Swe.) 37–14–9–23–10 2022 draft, 15th overall Lekkerimaki overcame injuries and mononucleosis last year and gained conditioning and confidence to become a sensation…
CAROLINA HURRICANES
THERE ARE TWO COMMON themes in Carolina’s draft strategy since Tom Dundon bought the team in 2018, and they’re easy to see reflected in the prospect pool. The Hurricanes have generally prioritized skill over size and have also favored Russian prospects. Several from both categories are getting closer to the NHL. The theory on the former is that bigger players are easier to add via trade and free agency, but skill is harder to find. That crosses over with leveraging the market inefficiency in Russian players, given the issues getting them to North America even before the war in Ukraine. C+ | RANK: 22ND 1. ALEXANDER NIKISHIN OVERALL 28 D, 22, 6-4, 216 St. Petersburg (KHL) 64–16–38–54–39 2020 draft, 69th overall Nikishin is already one of the best players in the world outside the NHL, and he continues…
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
WATCHING THE SUCCESS OF young Flyers such as Cam York, Noah Cates, Samuel Ersson, Morgan Frost, Bobby Brink and Tyson Foerster shows the Flyers they are on the right track when it comes to a youthful rebuild. The team is hoping promising draft picks in its development system – such as Matvei Michkov, Oliver Bonk and Emil Andrae – will follow. “You see young guys having some success right now,” said assistant GM Brent Flahr, who is in charge of amateur scouting. “More importantly, they’re a big part of our group. They’ve really helped our veterans.” B | RANK: 10TH 1. MATVEI MICHKOV OVERALL 1 RW, 19, 5-10, 172 Sochi (KHL) 45–17–21–38–24 2023 draft, 7th overall Despite a bout with an illness – and his Sochi team struggling – Michkov has seen lots of ice and has played…
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